Rand Paul says he suffered six broken ribs — not five — from altercation

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Wednesday he had sustained six broken ribs and a build-up of fluids between his chest and lungs as a result of an altercation with a neighbor last Friday, revealing additional maladies about the previously reported incident.

"I appreciate all of the support from everyone. A medical update: final report indicates six broken ribs & new X-ray shows a pleural effusion," Paul tweeted. The pleural effusion, which was previously undisclosed, results in a buildup of fluids around the lungs.

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A top adviser for the senator had previously announced Paul had only sustained five broken ribs, including "three displaced fractures."

Doug Stafford, Paul's chief political strategist, had previously cautioned that the senator's condition could prove more severe than the initial prognosis.

“Displaced rib fractures can lead to life-threatening injuries such as: hemopneumothorax, pneumothorax, pneumonia, internal bleeding, laceration of internal organs and lung contusions. Senator Paul does have lung contusions currently,” Stafford said Sunday. “This type of injury is also accompanied by severe pain that can last weeks to months.”

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Rene Boucher, an anesthesiologist in Bowling Green, has been charged with misdemeanor assault for the altercation, which occurred at the Kentucky senator's home in the city.

While the motive for the attack is still unclear, a lawyer for Boucher said on Monday that the the exchange stemmed from a “matter that most people would regard as trivial."

“It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial,” attorney Matthew Baker said. “We sincerely hope that Sen. Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.”